Sept. 6, 2013 — Legacy Health announced today it is offering 3-D mammography, or tomosynthesis, at each of its four breast health centers, making it the first and only health system in the Portland-metro/southwest Washington region to offer this lifesaving technology to every patient, every time, at multiple locations. Legacy Health’s four breast health centers are located conveniently in virtually every corner of the region—Legacy Breast Health Center—Meridian Park in Tualatin; Legacy Breast Health Center–Mount Hood in Gresham; Legacy Breast Health Center–Salmon Creek in Vancouver, Wash.; and Legacy Breast Health Center–Good Samaritan in northwest Portland. Legacy Breast Health Center–Good Samaritan was the first to introduce 3-D technology to patients in Portland in October 2012.
As the newest technology for breast cancer screening and detection, 3-D mammography provides high-definition, more comprehensive images of the breast than conventional 2-D mammography. Specifically, 3-D creates multiple images of the breast, in layers, allowing Legacy radiologists to examine each high-definition image individually and reconstruct the images into full 3-dimensional view of the breast. The quality of these images allows Legacy radiologists to detect cancer earlier by more accurately pinpointing the size, shape, and location of potential problem areas; more clearly differentiating between benign abnormalities and real tumors’ all while reducing the number of callbacks and alleviating anxiety for patients.
“Early detection saves lives – 98% of women survive breast cancer when it is found in the earliest stage,” said Nathalie Johnson, M.D., FACS, Medical Director of Legacy Cancer Institute and Legacy Breast Health Centers. “Offering 3-D mammograms to every patient, every time at each of our Breast Health Centers is a significant upgrade to our already top-notch facility. Legacy is committed to the fight against breast cancer and providing the latest in imaging quality and by offering convenient access to this life saving technology will allow us to significantly build on this critical mission.”
Legacy Breast Health Center—Good Samaritan introduced 3-D mammography to Portland in 2012 and many patients have benefitted from the higher-definition, more comprehensive images the technology provides. Sallie Bullock, a breast cancer survivor and patient of the northwest Portland-based provider describes her experience being diagnosed with 3-D mammography in March 2013, “I am grateful to have had access to 3-D mammography as it was able to catch my cancer very early on, which spared me from having to go through chemotherapy. Offering this lifesaving technology to women throughout the region is a community asset that will undoubtedly save lives.”
The 3-D mammography devices replaced Legacy Breast Health Centers’ 2-D-only technology. They were made through significant investments by the Good Samaritan Foundation, Meridian Park Medical Foundation, and Mount Hood Medical Center Foundation.
Specifically, Legacy Breast Health Centers will administer 3-D mammograms using the state-of-the-art system, Hologic Dimensions 8000™.
Legacy Breast Health Centers are winners of multiple national quality awards for excellence in breast care, from screening to cancer care and post-treatment support. If you would like to schedule a mammogram or have questions, please call:
